Reading Time: 4 minutes Many rural landowners in their elder years may remember the odd and captivating sound made by greater sage grouse males as they courted females. But the once-common sound — variously described as a soft booming, burbling or popping — has been rarely heard for decades as the greater sage grouse population fell to fewer than […] Read more
Zoo takes steps to save beloved, but highly endangered, Prairie bird
Getting past the walls that we build around ourselves
Our lives change in profound ways when we reach out to others — and let them reach out to us
Reading Time: 3 minutes I am flipping through the photos of this past year. It has been an amazing time for me. Blessed at every juncture, I have been filled with light and love and pure joy. Despite huge and heartbreaking challenges, each day was worthy of this page, each moment a cherished memory. It was a lovely meshing […] Read more
Ask first — snowmobile later
In some parts of the province, there’s a 50-50 chance there’s an unharvested crop beneath the snow
Reading Time: 3 minutes With winter firmly in place and 40 to 60 per cent of crops still in the fields, the County of Grande Prairie has a message for winter recreation enthusiasts: If you’re going to snowmobile on farmers’ property, ask first. The county is issuing up to five free signs per farm urging people to get the […] Read more
Ag-plastic recycling now in business
Reading Time: < 1 minute A pilot program for recycling twine and grain bags is now up and running. The ‘Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It!’ program, funded by the province and administered by Alberta Beef Producers has 20 drop-off sites. Collections started in October but producers should check with the site in their area to confirm it is up and running […] Read more
Finance and succession help for younger farmers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farm Credit Canada is putting on a series of events for younger farmers so they can learn how “to take control of their business journey.” Eight “young farmer summits” for producers under the age of 40 are being held across the country, including two in Alberta. “The future of Canadian agriculture depends on attracting the […] Read more
Throne speech kicks off Parliament with nod to agriculture
The federal throne speech opening the first session of Canada’s 43rd Parliament further committed the Liberal minority government to combating climate change, supporting natural resource sectors and removing international trade barriers. Including a pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the speech, delivered Thursday in Ottawa, showed the government again demonstrating its commitment to a […] Read more
AFSC offers help for farmer clients
Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture Financial Services Corporation says there are “a number of options available to help clients with cash flow challenges” because of the poor growing season and dismal harvest. “This year, eligible clients can take advantage of a Post-Harvest Advance or a Preliminary Payment, and receive a portion of their estimated claim as an early payment, […] Read more
Like it or not, climate change will change your farm, say two experts
The growing season is already longer and extremes more common, say climatologist and crop specialist
Reading Time: 6 minutes Canada’s best-known climatologist always knows when he’s lost a crowd of producers he’s presenting to. It’s usually right around the time he starts talking about climate change. But he gets it. “Farmers have been beat up a lot — they’ve been accused of causing climate change,” said David Phillips, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s senior […] Read more
Alberta’s new farm safety act gets warm response
New act exempts most Alberta farms from workplace rules, removes right to unionize
Reading Time: 3 minutes There were no surprises when the United Conservative government unveiled its new farm workplace safety legislation — and that’s one of the things that farm leaders like about it. “It’s making farming easier,” Alberta Canola chair John Guelly said in contrasting the new legislation with the contentious version brought in by the previous NDP government. […] Read more
Ten youth receive $80,000 in scholarships
Reading Time: < 1 minute The 4-H Foundation of Alberta has awarded $80,000 to Alberta rural farm youth who must leave home to pursue a post-secondary education or trade. The awards, the largest monetary scholarships given out by 4-H Alberta come from Elmer and Ona Hansen Memorial Fund Scholarship (which was created by Lillian and Edward Ness in honour of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
